Volunteer Ideas for Kids

Ideas for families who want to volunteer together in Chester County — compiled by Maia Tolsdorf, Hearts & Hands Charity Ball Coordinator.

Volunteering with Family and Friends is Fun!

There are lots of ways that kids can roll up their sleeves and help out. Start by talking with your kids about what they like to do—whether it’s baking, crafting, performing, playing with young children, or reading books—and go from there.

If you bump up against age restrictions at a particular charity that your child wants to help, don’t give up! Think creatively about what you can do to support their work. For example, kids can sell handmade crafts or baked goods around their neighborhood or to family and friends and donate the proceeds to their favorite organization. Or an animal-lover who is too young to volunteer at a shelter, can still bake biscuit or make fleece toys for their furry friends. And just about every charity has special events that you can help with, too.

The following provides volunteer and contact information for the five organizations that were present at the Hearts & Hands Charity Ball, as well as a few others with whom my family or friends have had great volunteer experiences. This is just a starting point: there are so many wonderful organizations working in Chester County, so keep searching until you find something that you feel good about doing!

Chester County Food Bank

Volunteer opportunities abound with the Food Bank! All ages are welcome to help in food cupboard and warehouses around the county. You can also help transport food from one location to another. When the weather turns warmer, families are invited to help “glean” produce from designated gardens and farms throughout the county and deliver the fresh produce to a nearby food cupboard. Talk about hands-on! For more information, visit www.chestercountyfoodbank.org, or contact Phoebe Kitson at 610-873-6000 or pkitson@chestercountyfoodbank.org.

Chester County SPCA

Children under 18 cannot work with the animals, but ages 10-15 can join the Junior Fur Star Volunteer Corp and learn more about animal welfare. Anyone can collect used towels or blankets for the animals, bake biscuits, make toys, help with special events like Walk for Paws, or make a donation to help sponsor an animal. Families who are willing to make more of a commitment can foster an animal, or of course, adopt a shelter pet! For more information, visit www.ccspca.org, or contact Kathryn Sippel, Humane Education and Volunteer Manager at 610-692-6113 x219, humaneedandvolunteer@ccspca.org.

Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children

The Friends Association provides homeless families with emergency housing in private apartments, and provides support to help keep vulnerable families in their homes and avoid the trauma and cycle of homelessness. Although there aren’t any regular programs that children can volunteer with, Glenda Brion, Community Development Coordinator, is very receptive to ideas for hands-on volunteers. You can also be a part of Glenda’s “SOS Network,” and receive periodic emails with specific requests for gently used items, such as mattresses or pots and pans. Children can help you gather and deliver these items, and get a better appreciation of how their donation will directly and immediately impact a family in our community. Visit www.friendsassoc.org, or contact Glenda at 610-431-3598 x219 or g.brion@friendsassoc.org for more information.

Exchange Club Family Center

The Exchange Club provides one-on-one support to low-income families who are struggling to provide safe, strong homes for their children. You can volunteer to adopt a family in the program for one year, and help throughout the year with specific needs like preparing for back-to-school, donating clothing and winter coats, and contributing holiday presents. Program Director Voni Moore-Mastovich is also receptive to creative projects. For example, my Girl Scout troop recently collected used and new children’s books and brought them to the homes of several ECFC families. For more information, visit www.familyservice.us, or contact Voni directly at 610-696-4900 x29 or ecfc@familyservice.us.

Brandywine Valley Association

To help people learn about the natural resources here in the Brandywine Valley, the BVA hosts a multitude of educational programs and workshops throughout the year. Families can help maintain the BVA property by working in the gardens, weeding, mulching, or helping with plantings. All ages can volunteer to help with various events, including the Point-to-Point, Polar Plunge and Brandywine and Red Clay Creek Clean Up. For more information, visit www.brandywinewatershed.org, or contact Giselle Cosentino, Education Director, 610-793-1090 x103, gisellec@bva-rcva.org.

Young Friends of the Brandywine Conservancy

The Young Friends is a volunteer committee that supports the Brandywine Conservancy and its mission to protect and promote the natural and cultural resources of the Brandywine watershed. The Young Friends offers volunteer opportunities for families, including an annual tree planting at one of the most beautiful spots in our area, the Laurels Preserve. It’s a great event for the whole family, and will get you excited about doing more! For more information, visit www.youngfriends.org, or email youngfriends@brandywine.org.

West Chester Area Day Care Center

This incredible day care center provides quality care for children ages six weeks through kindergarten, with after care for children up to age 12. Approximately 70% of the families it serves are low income. This is one of my favorite places to bring used books and quality toys, though they don’t always need them, so call first. They welcome volunteers to spend time reading or playing with the children. Over the summer, my girls paired up with a friend and each spent a couple of hours in a classroom – they had a blast! For more information, visit www.wcadaycare.org, or contact Betsy Billie 610-696-8447 or wcadcc@yahoo.com.

Serving Meals

My family had a great experience assisting with the Community Dinner at Holy Trinity Church on High Street. We do not attend Holy Trinity, but anyone is welcome to volunteer. The mission of this program is not just to feed the hungry, but also to give young people an opportunity to become aware of community needs and to help meet those needs. The program is run entirely by volunteers, so be patient if no one calls you back right away. Visit the website at www.holytrinitywc.org/comdinners.html, or call the church office for more information at 610-696-4640. I know many who have enjoyed volunteering with Safe Harbor, which provides both lunch and dinner to homeless in our area. There is great information online at www.safeharborofgwc.org.